Looking at taking a trip down West Coast from roughly Santa Cruz to LA, visiting family in each of those 2 cities. If we stay mostly on the 101, what breweries are along that route to make sure to see. I know Firestone Walker and likelyThe Libertine as well. What other suggestions on that route that dont stray too far from the 101(with an hour’s drive) do you all have?
Are you committed to an RV? PCH is a much more scenic route and it’s easy to get inland from Cambria or Morro Bay to hit Paso Robles.
I love Moonstone Beach in Cambria, but I’m not sure about navigating there in an RV.
Not sold on an rv, just found a great deal last year and we are hoping for same type of deal on 2016. Tough to beat $1 per day. Otherwise it’s a rental car with 4-8 of us depending on if any family joins us on the route from one to the other. Don’t know our way around, the map just made it look like the 101 was a nice straight-ish route to hit our starting and ending points. We are open to all suggestions though
101 is fine, but 1 is way better. They merge North of Santa Barbara and split in Oxnard. There are many federal and state camp grounds the whole way down that should be able to accommodate and RV. Can’t help beyond Firestone really.
Stop in Solvang. It’s this weird little Danish town
My neighborhood brewer is http://hopdogma.com/. It’s a bit far being an hour north of Santa Cruz (near Half Moon Bay Harbor), but if it fits into your itinerary please send a PM :).
All that sounds good. I think our plans involve flying into LA, spending time with family there, picking up a vehicle, and driving the roughly 6 hours to Santa Cruz, checking out whatever we can on the way. We may also make the trip back down. The other option is flying into the Bay area and going south through Santa Cruz and into LA
When are you coming? I can show you around. Barrelhouse in paso is worthwhile as is surf brewing in Ventura. Lots worthwhile in LA now. Where in LA are you headed? I live in orange county but we are in paso robles often.
We are planning for sometime over next summer, have a brother in Santa Cruz and a sister/BIL/niece in LA. Trying to fit visits to all on one trip. We were in LA and San Diego 1.5 years ago, but this trip would include the kids as well
As far as in LA, I know they live on Grand View, fairly close to Sony pictures studio (only real neighborhood landmark I remember from last visit)
Sante Adarius in Capitola is a must-visit, and New Bohemia in Santa Cruz is a new brewery that is worth a look. If you can sneak down south a little more, the Bruery in Placentia is, duh, a must-visit, too. Have a great trip –
Yes, wanted to hit the Bruery on our last trip, just ran out if time
San Fran to LA= West Coast? ouch. 
Not sure I follow. Too far inland to be considered the coast, or just that it’s only California? If the first, all of California is the West Coast of the country for those of us here in Indiana. Either way, any thoughts on sight seeing along that route?
I think he is referring to the fact that there is a whole lot of California west coast North of S.F. :). In fact one of my favorite breweries is in Fort Bragg… North Coast Breweries, the makers of Old Rasputian 
Maybe north of SF can be the next trip, and on into Oregon and Washington. And I do like some old Rasputin
Half Moon Bay Area, Santa Cruz, Big Sur and Highway 1 down to San Simeon, stop there and see the Hearst Castle. In Paso Robles, Firestone Walker is a must, and Barrelhouse is also good. There are many towns to check out on the way from there to LA.
Thanks Jeff
Yeah, I’m just being a weisenheimer.
Do come see us in Oregon sometime. It’s quite nice, and there’s beer.
The choice of north or south depends on what you are looking for. North of the Bay Area has some of the oldest living organisms on earth in the form of massive trees. It is green and beautiful, but the beaches are cold. If you want to swim, south is the better choice. I love both drives but for different reasons.
…and different beers.